Locking device for chokes for shotguns



May 14, 1963 M. PHILIPPE LOCKING DEVICE FOR cnoms FOR SHOTGUNS Filed April 24. 1961 United States Patent 3,089,273. LOCKING DEVICE FOR CHOKES FOR SHOTGUNS Maurice Philippe, 39 Rue Hoche, Courbevoie (Seine), France Filed Apr. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 104,908 Claims priority, application France May 12, 1960 Claims. (Cl. 42-79) The present invention relates to apparatus for locking chokes on shotguns.

It is well known that adjustable choke devices provide rapid pattern changes for shotguns providing different concentrations of the shot for proper utilization of the shotgun under difiering conditions.

It is the object of the present invention to provide novel apparatus for easy replacement of a choke tube or choke tubes .while providing absolute axial and angular locking of the choke tube or tubes to the barrel of the shotgun.

The present invention is useful with double-barreled shotguns, either opposed or over and under, and can also be used with a single-barreled, single loading or automatic shotgun.

In the accompanying drawings, two embodiments of the present concept are shown on large scale to illustrate the present concept, These illustrative embodiments should not be construed as defining or limiting the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts, FIG. 1 is a muzzle end view of an embodiment of locking apparatus of the present invention as applied to a conventional double-barreled shotgun;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 on the line II-II of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a side view, partly in section, of the embodiment of FIG. 1 on the line I-lI-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end view, partly in section, of another embodiment of the present invention on the line IV-IV of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 on the line V-V thereof; and

FIG. 6 is .an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 mounted on the barrel of a single-barreled shotgun.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1-3, and more specifically to FIG. 3, a choke tube 1 of truncated conical shape is provided with an interior bore 2 and is centered in a cylindrical recess let into the end of barrel 3. Bore 2 of tube 1 converges toward the muzzle of the gun to provide the desired amount of choke. Tube 1 is provided with a collar 4 having an exterior diameter substantially equal to the exterior diameter of the barrel.

A block 5 is secured between the two barrels 3 adjacent their muzzles and has surfaces 6 concentric with each of the two barrels 3. Each surface 6 includes retaining finger 7 of slightly larger radius than that of collar 4.

The outer circumference of collar 4 of each of the choke tubes is cut away at 8 (FIG. 2). Cut away portion 8 is slightly larger in angular length than each of fingers 7. Cut away part 8 permits the choke tube to be placed in the barrel to its fully seated position. The choke tube is then rotated and that part of collar 4 which is not cut away at 8 is then rotated behind finger 7 thus providing axial locking of the choke tube in position in the barrel.

Angular locking of the choke tube is provided, as seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, by a disengageable locking element or piece 10 secured to block 5 by screw 9. Piece 10 has branches 11 forming a slide way for a movable button 12 movable against the action of spring 13 and in norice mal position engaging shoulder 14 of block 5. Button 12 may have a transverse rectangular section provided on its lateral faces with grooves mounted in slide way 11. The rectangular lateral faces of button 12 include portions or shoulders 15 which engage, in their normal position 'as seen in FIG. 3, in notches 16 let into the outer surface of collar 4.

The angular position of notches 16 is identical on all of the choke tubes for use with the shotgun and is so arranged that angular locking of the choke tube by button 12 is obtained when the cut away portion 8 is disposed away from finger 7 and preferably located symmetrically with respect to the axis of the shotgun.

To remove a choke tube, button 12 is pushed to the rear by manual engagement of a milled surface on the exterior face of the button to disengage portions 15 from notches 16. The choke tube is then turned in one direction or the other to bring cut away portion 8 into coincidence with finger 7 and the choke tube is then withdrawn from the barrel. Another choke tube can then be inserted in the barrel by again pushing button '12 to the rear, inserting the tube so that cut away portion 8 passes around finger 7 and then turning the tube until portion 15 of button 12 engages notch 16.

Angular, movement of the choke tube is therefore prevented. The choke is absolutely secure against all accidental movement of the choke tube in rotation, such accidental rotation being common in adjustable chokes employing helicoidal threads to obtain adjustment.

In the embodiment of the present concept as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 the locking structure for preventing angular rotation of the choke tube includes a spring 17 mounted for rotation around pin 18, pin 18 being mounted in block 5. Spring 17 includes a turned portion 19 designed to snap into groove 20 formed in the face of block 5. Spring 17 has two wings 21 engaging in notches 16 of collars 4 of the choke tubes when spring 17 is in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

To replace a choke tube in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, spring 17 is turned in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 5 to disengage the wings from notches 16 and the choke tube is then rotated, as above,

to bring cut away portion 8 thereof opposite finger 7 and the choke tube can then be lifted from the barrel. Any desired choke tube can be locked in the barrel by reversing the steps just described.

The embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 is easily applied to a single-barreled shotgun as is shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, each choke tube has two spaced notches l6 symmetrically disposed with respect to the other and block 5, mounting spring 17, is arranged in the axis of and is secured beneath the barrel.

It should now be apparent that the present invention in every way satisfies the objective discussed above.

Changes in or modifications to the above-described illustrative embodiments of the present concept may now be suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention. Reference should there .fore be had to the appended claims to determine the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for locking a choke tube axially and angularly in a shotgun barrel including at least one barrel, a choke tube for each barrel, a recess in the muzzle of said barrel receiving said choke tube, a collar on the muzzle end of said choke tube, a retaining finger secured to said barrel, means for engaging said collar with said retaining finger by rotation of said collar comprising a cut away portion in said collar for movement over said finger, and means for locking said collar against angular rotation including a disengageable element mounted on said barrel for movement into and out of locking engagement with said collar.

2. Apparatus as described in claim 1, said finger being secured beneath said barrel, and said means for locking said choke tube against angular rotation including two spaced shoulders engaging two notches let into said collar of said choke tube.

3. Apparatus as described in claim 1 including resilient means for holding said element in locking position against sliding movement parallel to the axis of the shotgun.

4. Apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said element includes a spring mounted for rotation beneath the barrel of the shotgun.

5. Apparatus for locking choke tubes axially and angularly in the barrels of a double-barreled shotgun, a pair of barrels, a recess in the muzzle of each of said barrels receiving the choke tube, a choke tube on each of said barrels, a collar on the muzzle end of said choke tube, a retaining finger mounted on said barrels in their axis of symmetry, means for engaging each of said collars with said retaining finger by rotation of each of said collars comprising a cut away portion in each of said collars for movement over said finger and means for locking each of said collars against angular rotation including a disengageable element mounted on said barrels for movement into and out of locking engagement with each of said collars and two shouders on said element, one shoulder for each of said collars, each collar having a notch, each notch being engaged by one of said shoulders.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. APPARATUS FOR LOCKING A CHOKE TUBE AXIALLY AND ANGULARLY IN A SHOTGUN BARREL INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE BARREL, A CHOKE TUBE FOR EACH BARREL, A RECESS IN THE MUZZLE OF SAID BARREL RECEIVING SAID CHOKE TUBE, A COLLAR ON THE MUZZLE END OF SAID CHOKE TUBE, A RETAINING FINGER SECURED TO SAID BARREL, MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID COLLAR WITH SAID RETAINING FINGER BY ROTATION OF SAID COLLAR COMPRISING A CUT AWAY PORTION IN SAID COLLAR FOR MOVEMENT OVER SAID FINGER, AND MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID COLLAR AGAINST ANGULAR ROTATION INCLUDING A DISENGAGEABLE ELEMENT MOUNTED ON SAID BARREL FOR MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID COLLAR. 